ARTICLE IV: Membership

Section 1. Definition.

A. A surgical technologist is an allied health profes-sional

who possesses expertise in the theory and

application of sterile and aseptic techniques and

who combines knowledge of human anatomy, sur-gical

procedures, and the implementation tools

and technologies to facilitate a physician's perfor-mance

of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic pro-cedures.

B. A member of the State Assembly must be a mem-ber

of AST.

C. A member of the State Assembly may be a mem-ber

residing in the state or a member who does

not reside in the state but has indicated to AST

that the member chooses to be a member of the

State Assembly.

Section 2. Classification

A. Active Member

l. One who has passed the national certifying

examination and maintains certification cur-rency

as defined by the Liaison Council on

Certification for the Surgical Technologist,

hereinafter referred to as the "LCC-ST."

2. Active members have voice and vote.

B. Associate Member

1. One who has passed the national certifying

examination and not maintained certification

currency as defined by the LCC-ST.

2. One who has proof of either having completed

or being currently enrolled as a student in a

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health

Education Program (hereinafter referred to as

"CAAHEP")-accredited surgical technology

program or its equivalent.

3. One who can provide notarized documentation

from her/his employer that she/he is employed

as a surgical technologist.

4. One whose primary source of employment is

teaching in a CAAHEP-accredited surgical

technology program or its equivalent.

5. Associate members (numbers 1 through 4)

have voice but no vote.

C. Affiliate Member

l. Any individual or organization that wishes to

affiliate with AST and is approved by the

Board of Directors as defined in the AST

Policy Manual.

2. Affiliate members have voice but no vote.

D. Retired Member

1. One who provides proof of reaching age 65 or

provides proof of permanent disability result-ing

in an inability to work.

2. Voice and/or vote for a retired member will be

based on the criteria in subsections A, B, or C

of this section.

E. Honorary Member

1. One who has served as a President of AST.

2. One who has rendered notable service to AST

and is approved by the House of Delegates

upon recommendation of the Board of

Directors.

3. Voice and/or vote for an honorary member

shall be based on the criteria in subsections

A, B, or C of this section.

Section 3. Dues

A. A combined dues amount for national and State

Assembly dues ("unified dues") shall be estab-lished

by the House of Delegates, paid according

to established procedure, and maintained by AST.

B. National and State Assembly dues may not be col-lected

by any other entity other than AST.

C. Membership benefits shall begin upon receipt of

national and State Assembly dues at AST.

D. A member whose national and State Assembly

dues are not received at AST within thirty days

from the renewal date shall be delinquent and for-feit

all membership privileges. Reinstatement shall

be effective upon payment of dues.

E. Dues for student members and retired members

shall be fifty percent of the established annual

dues.

F. Annual dues shall be waived for honorary mem-bers.

ARTICLE V: Finance

Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year shall be the calen-

dar year.

Section 2. Budget. The state assembly shall adopt an

annual budget. The budget shall be filed with AST by

January 31 of each year.

Section 3. Financial disclosure. The state assembly

shall prepare a minimum of 2 sets of financial state-ments

each year. The minimum 2 sets of statements

will report year to date activity for January 1 - June 30

and January 1 - December 31. The statements will be

filed with AST and be available to all members of the

state assembly.

Section 4. Examination of financial statements. The year

end financial statements of the state assembly shall be

examined by an independent auditor or a third party

otherwise acceptable to AST. The level of examination

(compilation, review, or audit) shall be determined by

the AST Policy Manual.

Section 5. Insurance. The officers and directors of the

state assembly shall have adequate directors and offi-cers

liability insurance coverage as determined by

AST.

Section 6. Check Signing. Authorization for signing

checks and the amount shall be defined in the State

Assembly Policy Manual.

ARTICLE VI: Nominations and Elections

Section 1. Nominations

A. At least 90 days prior to the elections, each poten-tial

candidate shall present to the Credentials

Committee a curriculum vitae and a written con-sent

to serve if elected. All nominees who meet

the qualifications for office shall be eligible for

election.

B. At least 60 days prior to the elections, the

Credentials Committee shall present a list of candi-dates

for each office to be filled at the elections via

a State Assembly mailing/publication distributed to

the entire State Assembly membership.

C. Nominations may also be made from the floor pro-vided

written consent of the nominees has been

obtained in advance and their credentials have been

verified by the Credentials Committee.

D. A member holding an elective position may not be

nominated for another position for which the term

would begin before expiration of the term of the

current position unless the member resigns from

her/his current elective position.

E. A member employed by AST shall not be nomi-nated

for a State Assembly elected position.

Section 2. Elections

A. Elections shall be held in the state by ballot at the

Annual Meeting.

B. Election of officers shall be by a majority vote. In

the event a second ballot is needed to establish a

majority, the two candidates receiving the highest

number of votes shall be placed on the second

ballot.

C. Election of Directors shall be by plurality vote. In

the case of a tie, a decision shall be by ballot

between the tied candidates and plurality shall

elect. In the event of a second tie, a decision shall

be by lot.

D. A Tellers Committee shall be appointed by the

President with due regard to geographic distribu-tion.

E. The President, Vice President, Treasurer and two

Directors shall be elected in odd-numbered years.

The Secretary and three Directors shall be elected

in even-numbered years.

ARTICLE VII: Officers

Section 1. The officers of the State Assembly shall be

the following: President, Vice President, Secretary,

and Treasurer or Secretary/Treasurer.

Section 2. Eligibility of Officers

A. A candidate shall have been an active member for

one year immediately preceding nomination and,

if elected, shall maintain that active status.

Section 3. Term of Office of Officers

A. The Vice President shall serve for a term of two

years or until a successor has been elected. The

President shall serve for a term of two years or

until a successor is elected.

B. The Secretary and Treasurer shall serve for a term

of two years or until their successors have been

elected.

C. All newly elected officers shall assume office at

the close of the elections.

D. No officer may serve more than two full consecu-tive

terms in the same office.

E. Any amount of time served that equals more than

half a term shall be considered a full term of office.

Section 4. Duties of Officers

A. The President or her/his designee selected from

the remaining officers and directors shall be the

official representative of the State Assembly at all

times and places.

B. The officers shall perform the duties prescribed by

these Bylaws, the State Assembly Policy Manual,

and Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised.

Section 5. Vacancies of Officers

A. A vacancy occurring in the office of President

shall be automatically filled by the Vice President.

B. A vacancy occurring in the office of Vice President

shall be filled by the State Assembly Board of

Directors from among the Board members.

C. In the event there is a vacancy in both the offices

of President and Vice President, both offices shall

be filled by the State Assembly Board of Directors

from among the Board members. Both offices

shall then be elected at the next Annual Meeting.

D. A vacancy occurring in the office of Secretary or

Treasurer between Annual Meetings shall be filled

for the unexpired term by the State Assembly

Board of Directors.

Section 6. Within ten days following the completion of a

term or a resignation, the respective officer shall

transmit to the successor all State Assembly records

and property of that officer.

ARTICLE VIII: Meetings

Section 1. The State Assembly shall meet annually and

that meeting shall be known as the Annual Meeting,

the date and place of which shall be determined by

the State Assembly Board of Directors.

Section 2. The voting body for the Annual Meeting shall

be the active members of the State Assembly. Voting

by active members shall be in person and each active

member will be entitled to one vote.

Section 3. Business Meetings

A. There shall be a minimum of one business meet-ing

at each Annual Meeting.

B. Sixty days written notice shall be given via a State

Assembly mailing/publication distributed to the

entire State Assembly membership of the time,

place, and business to be considered at the meet-ing.

C. Business meetings shall be open to AST members

in the State Assembly. Every member shall have

voice, but only active members may make motions

and vote.

D. A minimum of 20 active members or three percent

of the total active State Assembly

members(whichever is greater) shall constitute a

quorum for a business meeting. (If the State

Assembly is multi-state, a minimum of three per-cent

of the total active State Assembly members

from each state must be represented.)

E. Special Meetings

1. Special meetings of the active members may

be called by two-thirds of the State Assembly

Board of Directors or by two-thirds of the

active members. Ninety days written notice

shall be given via a State Assembly

mailing/publication distributed to the entire

State Assembly active membership of the time,

place, and business to be considered at the

special meeting.

ARTICLE IX: State Assembly Board of Directors

Section 1. The State Assembly Board of Directors shall

consist of the officers and five other elected Directors.

Section 2. Eligibility of Directors

A. A candidate for the State Assembly Board of

Directors shall have been an active member for

one year immediately preceding nomination and if

elected, shall maintain that active status.

Section 3. Term of Office of Directors

A. Directors shall serve for a term of two years or

until their successors have been elected.

B. All newly elected Directors shall assume office at

the close of the business meeting at the Annual

Meeting.

C. No Director may serve more than two full consec-utive

terms in the same office.

D. Any amount of time served that equals more than

half a term shall be considered a full term of

office.

Section 4. Vacancies of Directors

A. Vacancies for Directors occurring between Annual

Meetings shall be filled for the unexpired term by

the State Assembly Board of Directors.

Section 5. Duties of the Board of Directors

Directors shall have the following duties:

A. Read and review the State Assembly's Bylaws

annually and any other materials as directed by

AST.

B. Have the authority to transact business between

meetings of the active members.

C. Formulate policies and procedures to be included

in the State Assembly Policy Manual.

D. Foster the growth and development of the State

Assembly.

E. Have the authority to establish State Assembly

Board of Directors standing committees, the com-position

and duties of which shall be stated in the

State Assembly Policy Manual.

F. Review all committee reports and determine action

to be taken.

G. Submit a written report to the active members for

all State Assembly Board of Directors' activities.

H. Authorize the awarding of all contracts.

I. Authorize the exclusive use of the official insignia

of the State Assembly.

J. Fulfill any other duties as specified in these

Bylaws.

Section 6. Meetings of the State Assembly Board of

Directors

A. The State Assembly Board of Directors shall hold

at least two meetings per year.

B. Special meetings may be called by the President

or upon written request of three members of the

State Assembly Board of Directors. Written or

electronic notice of such a special meeting shall

be sent at least thirty days prior to the meeting

unless waived by a majority vote of the State

Assembly Board of Directors.

C. Five members of the State Assembly Board of

Directors, at least two of whom are officers, shall

constitute a quorum of the State Assembly Board

of Directors.

D. Minutes of all State Assembly Board of Directors'

meetings shall be maintained and available for

inspection upon request.

Section 7. Voting by the State Assembly Board of

Directors shall be by either voice, mail ballot, telephone

conference call, fax, or any other form of electronic

transmission which complies with state law.

ARTICLE X: Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees

A. Duties. The duties and composition of these com-mittees

shall be as stated in the State Assembly

Policy Manual.

Section 2. Special Committees

A. A special committee may be appointed by the

President, as the need arises, to carry out a speci-fied

task, at the completion of which it ceases to

exist.

B. Guidelines for such committees shall be as stated

in the State Assembly Policy Manual.

Section 3. Eligibility of Committee Members

A. Members of the Bylaws, Resolutions, and

Parliamentary Procedure Committee shall have

active membership status in AST.

B. Members of the Education and Standards of

Practice Committee shall have active or associate

AST membership status.

C. The Government and Public Affairs Committee

and special committees may include active, asso-ciate,

or affiliate members of AST or nonmembers.

D. Committee members may be removed by the State

Assembly Board of Directors based on failure to

perform, as defined in the AST Policy Manual.

Section 4. The President shall be an ex-officio member

of all committees.

ARTICLE XI: Parliamentary Authority

Section 1. The latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the State Assembly in all

cases not covered by these Bylaws.

ARTICLE XII: Amendments

Section 1. The active members attending the Annual

Meeting may amend the State Assembly Bylaws every

five years provided a quorum is present.

A. All proposed amendments shall be submitted to

the State Assembly Board of Directors by the end

of the preceding year and to all State Assembly

members via a State Assembly mailing/publica-tion

at least ninety days prior to the Annual

Meeting at which they will be voted upon.

B. The State Assembly Board of Directors may

declare an extraordinary need and present a previ-ously

unpublished amendment for consideration

at the Annual Meeting, provided that such amend-ment

shall be voted upon and gain approval by a

quorum.

C. All proposed amendments must be submitted to

National for approval after being passed.

Section 2. In intervening years, the State Assembly

Board of Directors may declare an emergency situation

and present an amendment for consideration provided

that such amendment shall be voted upon and gain

approval by a quorum of the members. The Board of

Directors may adopt bylaws to be in confirmation with

AST requirements without a vote of the membership.

Section 3. Amendments to the national AST bylaws

which are applicable to the State Assembly shall be

incorporated into the State Assembly's Bylaws imme-diately

upon adoption by National.

Section 4. State Assembly amendments shall not be in

conflict with AST bylaws.

ARTICLE XIII: Dissolution

Section 1. In the event of the dissolution of the State

Assembly, all State Assembly assets shall be assigned

to the AST National Treasury. None of the funds shall

inure to the benefit of individual members.

Section 2. In the event of the dissolution of the State

Assembly, the State Assembly Charter document must

be returned to AST.

6/27/00